Los Angeles: A Foodie's Paradise

Is “Foodie” your middle name? Then let me guide you to some of L.A.'s culinary highlights.

Organic is big in Los Angeles. Celebrities and health aficionados flock to restaurants like M Café de Chaya to fulfill all their macrobiotic needs. Built on the foundation of Michio Kushi, it lets vegetarians and non-vegetarians enjoy healthy dishes using fresh ingredients without any refined processing or chemical treatments. Another great option: relish contemporary macrobiotic cuisine in a quaint European bistro setting, then top off your meal with a succulent dessert, at the Patisserie.

L.A. is a burger lover’s paradise! Known for its simple one-page menu, Apple Pan has been serving up top notch burgers and succulent pies since 1947. Grab a seat at the u-shaped counter and settle in for a unique burger experience that has changed little over the past 60 years. Order the zesty hickory burger, sip your soft drink from a cone paper cup held by a metallic holder, and save room for the fresh apple pie with a dollop of ice cream. Drop by for a bite, and you might just run into a Jonas brother.

Mexican Food also a Must-Do

You’ll be saying “Una mas, por favor” multiple times while dining at some of the most authentic Mexican restaurants and taco stands found in Los Angeles. Winner of the “Taco Madness 2009” competition, Yuca’s opened almost 35 years ago to become a legendary LA institution. Mariachi enthusiasts can enjoy Guelaguetza’s Oaxacan meal while serenaded by renowned band Mariachi Mexicanissimo on Friday nights. For a delicioso sit down meal, head to Eagle Rock's CaCao Mexicatessen to chow on the duck carnitas, voted one of the “10 Best Dishes of 2010” in LA Weekly. Fiesta, then siesta!

Care for some omakase with a side of celebrity sighting? The long stretch of Ventura Boulevard between Sherman Oaks and Studio City in the Valley is home to some of the finest sushi houses in the nation. The original Katsu-ya ranks at the top of every “Best List” since opening its doors in 1997. Don’t let the dinghy strip mall exteriors fool you. Sushi Nozawa and Asanebo hail as sashimi diamonds in the rough, for inside all your fresh seafood dreams come true.

Is your head spinning yet? The sheer amount of food specialties offered in L.A. is enough to make any foodie's head spin. Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and let your taste buds do the work!

Living in the land of perpetual sun, beautiful beaches, and gorgeous people has fueled Sujata Day’s creativity in myriad ways. Her short story “Forbidden Fate” won the WRITE STUFF competition sponsored by MTV and People magazine, birthing a prosperous writing career. The tale was published in a collection of short stories titled Pieces, edited by Stephen Chbosky. Reviews hail Pieces as “an exciting glimpse into the future of fiction” and “endearingly raw, undeniably bold, and engagingly inventive.”
Since moving to LA from the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA, Sujata has appeared in many TV shows, films, and internet productions. TV credits include Desperate Housewives, Secret Life of the American Teenager, Campus Ladies, Greek, and The Loop. She plays a supporting role in 2009’s Down For Life, alongside Danny Glover and Snoop Dogg. Sujata produced, wrote, and starred in the web pilot Raveena and the Vampire chosen to launch as a 2010 premiere vehicle on the popular internet channel, Somebody’s Basement. Currently, she stars as ‘CeCe’ in the hit web series, Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. Sujata can be seen next starring in the film, Big Breakin', to be released in early 2012.